“One of the most popular images on Cold is the Sea is my illustration of a pair of US Navy Liberty Cuffs which I couldn’t have done without the information from Navy Collector, a site by Dan Smith SCPO, USNR(Ret). Dan recently messaged me with information about his new book ‘US Navy Tailor Made Dress Blues, Liberty Cuffs and Sailor Folk Art’, so I thought I’d give him a plug. Thanks for your site Dan! I’m looking forward to the book.”

Artist: Earl Norem (b. April 17, 1924), often credited simply as Norem, is an American artist primarily known for his painted covers for Marvel Comics books and magazines. Over his five-decade career, Norem also brought his colorful, expressive, and dynamic style to covers for novels, gaming books, movie posters, baseball programs, and trading cards.keep reading on Two-Fisted Tales of True-Life Weird Romance!

Fitting out: BB55 in Brooklyn Navy Yard NY, tied up at pier; 1941 — USS North Carolina (BB-55) – (Showboat) was the lead ship of her class of battleship and the fourth in the United States Navy to be named in honor of this U.S. state. She was the first new-construction U.S. battleship to enter service during World War II, participating in every major naval offensive in the Pacific theater to become the most decorated U.S. battleship of the war with 15 battle stars. She is now a museum ship at the port of Wilmington, North Carolina. see also: Launch; Time magazine, March 17, 1941 on thegildedcentury

After victory in World War II, the United States Navy initiated a complex process to migrate portions of its massive armada into inactive status. This 1945 documentary explains the proper methodology for preparing a warship for the Reserve Fleet. Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Photographic Section

Monkey Fist is a smack-talking, potty mouthed, Yankee hating, Red Sox fan in Portland, Maine. In addition to compiling Maritime Monday, she blogs about nautical art, history, and marine science on Adventures of the Blackgang.Submit story ideas, news links, photographs, or items of interest to her at MM@gcaptain.com. She can also out-belch any man.